Re: Most underrated House

Antonio Banderas - I have enjoyed everything I have tried from this house, some more than others.Tommy Bahama - To my knowledge, they have 5 major releases for men. I own 4 of them and enjoy them all. St Martinique, there latest release (and hardest to find), I recently acquired a sample of, and was not impressed. Basically a rip off of Nautica Voyage with some added musk.Diesel - Many of their older releases get little to no love.Dunhill - A few from this house that I find horrible, but, the ones I do like, are outstanding.JacomoTim McGraw - This house has only 4 men's releases, to my knowledge, 2 of them are amazing, and 2 are just nice.Vera Wang - Granted there is only one men's fragrance in this house, that being Vera Wang for Men, I think it is an amazing one. I wish projection and longevity were better though.Zirh - 3 great men's fragrances, low prices.

Honorable houses to mention, but may not be underrated:Bvlgari - Maybe this house is underrated really, Just Black gets all the attention. There are a lot of great ones in this house.Burberry - Another great house, and like Bvlgari, they make beautiful bottles too. Of course, London, being their most loves here in the fragrance world, while Brit is probably their top seller. I'm not a Brit fan; but London, Touch, The Beat, Summer version 2009, are all great ones.Slumberhouse - Although I have only tried Norne (and was blown away) - I can tell based on reviews, and comments from friends, that this house has some good stuff, I hope I can try everything soon!

"God may exist, but science can explain the universe without the need for a creator."-Stephan Hawking

Re: Most underrated House

John Varvatos....underrated purely in terms of smell. Some of his male stuff is just wow. However, longevity is pathetic across the whole line. If longevity were better, the Varvatos line would be a massive, massive hit.

Re: Most underrated House

Amouage, my favorite brand is indeed pretty underrated,
but since the brand is now for sale at Douglas and can be found between cheap stuff
at airports, I start loosing my interest in the brand.
Amouage belongs at the niche perfume shops, in my opinion, between brands like Serge Lutens
and Creed; not next to Paco Rabanne!

Re: Most underrated House

Originally Posted by comfortablynumbbg

John Varvatos....underrated purely in terms of smell. Some of his male stuff is just wow. However, longevity is pathetic across the whole line. If longevity were better, the Varvatos line would be a massive, massive hit.

totally agree with duration solved would be an incredible hit, scents are incredible, duration ludicrous!

Re: Most underrated House

On BN, I'd say Balenciaga is, but that may be because I've tried some of their great "feminine" scents whereas most male BN member may not have. Rumba in particular is incredible, putting niche to shame (note that I am referring to the original, not the Lapidus reformulation). I am a huge fan of Ho Hang Club.

Re: Most underrated House

Among others (not separating them according to niche, designer etc.), I can immediately think of Krizia, Roccobarocco, Knize, Loewe, La Martina, Francesco Smalto, Roberto Capucci, to a certain extent, even more known brands like Ungaro, Caron, Gres etc.

Re: Most underrated House

I don't really understand the logic behind Amouage being underated -- every new fragrance they bring out is expected to be a masterpiece!

Definitely Etat Libre D'Orange though. The House is partly to blame though with their gimmicky and near the knuckle marketing. Harvey Nicks pulled the range for this reason. They have some lovely scents.

Re: Most underrated House

Originally Posted by Dernier_Cri

I feel the amount of love shown to houses like Creed and Bond isn't always justified.

Ummm......since when have basenoters shown a large amount of love for Bond? I would say that it is one of the most hated...if not THE most hated house on this forum. Thus, it would totally fall into the category of "underrated". There are quite a few Bonds that I love and so, thus, I would say it's "underrated"...would I say it's the most underrated house in the sense that the OP is meaning? No. Would I say that is the most underrated house because it is rated so dang low? Yep!

On the other hand, do I think that Creed is the most overrated house? A Huge Resounding YES!!

Re: Most underrated House

Originally Posted by Dernier_Cri

In a way I think Amouage is underrated and I know that may sound strange but my reasoning is this: I feel the amount of love shown to houses like Creed and Bond isn't always justified. While Amouage is certainly very well thought of, I don't think it gets the attention it deserves relative to some of these other houses. Amouage has their share of duds, but they have put out so much that is so very fine. JMHI.

I'm with you on that one. I haven't spent enough time with their line yet, but wow. Interlude Man knocked me out. It is just so rich. So smokey, yet there's sweetness. I only got to smell it once, sprayed on to a cotton ball, but I hung onto that cotton ball because it blew me away. Wow. And, yes, Jubilation, Memoir, Epic, yes yes yes.

I suspect the $225 entry price for a 50ml makes Amouage harder to get into, and that means many of those who live to board the hype train find themselves riding elsewhere. Perhaps that's not a bad thing? ...I do wish Amouage offered a 50ml closer to the $150 mark. I'd rather pay $300 for two 50mls than $275 for one 100ml, especially since I'd like to admire their work in my wardrobe rather than at a shop. Ah well.

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Originally Posted by Kybid

Ummm......since when have basenoters shown a large amount of love for Bond?

Oh, there's a lot of love for Bond shown here. A lot of hate, too, but much of the hate is reactionary, in response to the hype. There's a lot of that with Creed too. People have a weird need to be against anything they see that others are for. It happens in politics, it happens with music, it happens with TV shows and movies, and it happens with perfume. As soon as something becomes popular, certain people will immediately claim it as Best Thing Ever, and certain people will bash it. And, often, neither group has any first hand experience with the thing they're so strongly for or against. Aren't people goofy?

Re: Most underrated House

Incredible creations by Rodrigo Flores-Roux for the designer house of John Varvatos!

Lack of longevity for such intelligent, unique and well-constructed compositions is less than desirable. However, layering the fragrances with their corresponding After Shave balms (or a neutral balm) helps. It is mandatory to also apply to your shirt when wearing any scent from the line - which increases both longevity & projection.

I am still a solid fan of the house and line...and will reapply to get more longevity, if I so desire. As my friend, Francolino states, the scents are rather incredible and I believe that is the first quality I look for in fragrance (simply, "how it smells"). Longevity and projection are secondary aspects of a composition by which I assess a fragrance...

Cheers,

ericrico

Originally Posted by Francolino

totally agree with duration solved would be an incredible hit, scents are incredible, duration ludicrous!

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Two more houses that are perhaps more overlooked than underrated are:

Caron
Balenciaga

Epic and timeless creations from both...!

ericrico

Last edited by ericrico; 15th January 2013 at 04:21 PM.

“Some perfumes are as fragrant as an infant’s flesh, sweet as an oboe’s cry, and greener than the spring; While others are triumphant, decadent or rich; Having the expansion of infinite things, like ambergris and musk, benzoin and frankincense, which sing the transports of the mind and every sense.”

Re: Most underrated House

Eclectic Collections. I have their Aperitif Private Label EdP. This induced me to return the bottle of Edition Blanche I purchased around the same time. Great natural lemon summer scent. I have a couple additional scents from them on my wish list.

Re: Most underrated House

The "old niche" in general.

Back in 2004 or so LV and MPG were very appreciated here. After zillion new niche houses with interesting ideas they still hold their place. I appreciate Mr. Villoresi's idea, that he is not an artist but an artisan. Being something different or shocking or new is never the most important aspect, but the balance of the composition - which is only achieved by hard work. They are immaculately crafted yet innovative in a subtle way.